Improvement in horse-collars



A. RUTHERFORD. HORSE-COLLARS.

No. 195,657. Patented Sept.25, 1877.

ATTORN EY-$ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM RUTHERFORD, OF WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

IMPRUVEMENT l-N HORSE-COLLARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,657, datedSeptember 25,1877; application filed May 19, 1877.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADAM RUTHERFORD, of Walla Walla, in the county ofWalla Walla, Washington Territory, have invented a new and valuableImprovement in Horse-Collars; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the construction andoperation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a plan view of myhorse-collar. Fig. 2 is a side view of one-half of my collar, and Figs.3, 4, and 5 are details of the same.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangementof a horse-collar, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, which fully ill-ustrate my invention, A Arepresent the side pieces with pads B B, and C the top cap or band of myimproved horse-collar. The body or side pieces A A and the cap 0 areconnected by means of rods or bars D D, which may be either plain orscrolled, and take the place of hames. On each side piece A, at thefront, are formed two brackets, E E, between which is the draft-bar G.The connecting rod or bar D passes through the top bracket E,-and isfastened in the lower bracket E, said rod or bar D being connected tothe side piece A, at or near the top, by a bolt, b, and swiveled oroscillating nut, or oscillating bolt alone.

On one side of the cap 0, at or near the bottom, I have shown a pivotedblock, at, to or in which the rod D is fastened by means of the terretH, the screw-shank of said terret passing through a slot in the rod, andthe adjoining faces of the rod and block formed with teeth orcorrugations, so that the rod can be adjusted up or down, and heldfirmly at any point. The pivoting of the block d is necessary for theworking of the adjustable bolt or screw b at the upper part of the body.0n the other side of the cap 0, 1 have shown the block (1 made solidwith the cap, which is intended for use on such collars where theadjustable screw 1) is dispensed with. When this screw is used thecollar can be made wider or narrower.

As an auxiliary to aid in holding each main rod D to the cap, ascrew, e,is passed through another slot in the rod into the block d. This screwis very necessary, as without it the terrets would work loose. The rodsD may be made entirely of iron, which is preferable, or of wood facedwith iron, whichever may be deemed most advantageous.

The draft-bars G on the body of the collar may be either plain ornotched. The notched draft-bar is calculated for suchdraft as plowing,where the weight is low on the ground, which would otherwise have atendency to bring the wear on the rod that raises and lowers the draft,and this would in a short time wear the threads off, and render ituseless.

J represents the movable clevis on each draft-bar G. This clevis has onits inner side a lip, f, which extends under and bears against the innerside of the draft-bar, for the purpose of taking the strain off the rodit that holds the breast-strap loop 0'. This lip f is a very importantfeature, for, as the draft will be wide, should the clevis get into thecenter, it would soon bend the rod h. On, or rather in, the front end ofthe clevis J is cut a worm, through which is passed a screw-rod, I, saidrod being swiveled in both brackets E E, by means of which the clevismay be raised or lowered, as required, to regulate the draft, while thecollar is on the animals neck.

The trace or chain is attached to the clevis by means of a bolt, k, atits rear end. The loop '5 is formed at the lower end of the rod h forthe purpose of holding the breast-straps and said rod h, extendingthrough the clevis, as shown, assists in keeping the clevis from wearingthe threads on the adjustingscrew but, forlight draft, the rod 71. maybe dispensed with.

By means of the adjustable screws b above described for adjusting themain rods D D, the collar is adapted to be contracted and expanded, tofit difierent shaped necks. The collar is fastened at the bottom byhaving lugs K K formed at the lower ends of the side pieces A A, and oneof said lugs having a ratchet-bar, m, projecting from it, which goesthrough a hole in the other lug and interlocks with a pivotedratchet-harm, the two being then held together by a link, 1;, and thelink held to its place when in use by one or more springs, s. wireguard, t, to prevent anything catching underneath.

At the bottom of the collar is a right-angular slotted slide, '0, theshort arm of which passes through the loop 10, in one of the lugs K, onthe lower end of the collar, the longer arm of the slide having a slotthrough which a set-screw, .1, passes, and thence into the opposite lugK, in the lower end of the collar, for the purpose of adjusting thewidth oetween the lugs, or the opening at the lower end of the collar,so that the teamster will not have to examine the fit of the collarevery time he has to put it on. The loop w may also be employed forattaching a pole-strap for light draft.

The fasteningratchet-bars may be reversed, so as to have both sidesalike, if desired.

The collar thus constructed opens from the bottom, and the strap 1 atthe top is so arranged that it can yield to the action of the collar,and this strap may be made of leather, metallic links, or other suitablematerial. In the construction of this collar, the draft-bars G are to beraised sufficiently to prevent the hame tug or trace from galling orwearing the horses shoulder.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the body A and cap C, the main connecting-rod Dand oscillating or adjustable bolt b, for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination of the slotted main rod Under the ratchet-bar n is aD, cap 0 with pivoted block (1, and terret H,

substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The auxiliary screw-fasteners e, in combination with the slotted rodD, cap 0, block d, and terret H, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

4. The movable clevis J, provided with the projecting lip f, incombination with the drafthar G, as and for the purpose hereindescribed.

5. The combination, with the brackets E E, of the rod h, having loop 11on its lower end, and passing through the movable clevis J, as and forthe purpose herein described.

6. The combination of the brackets E E, draft-bar G, clevis J, andscrew-rod 1, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The bottom fastening of the collar, consisting of the rigidratchet-bar m, pivoted ratchet-bar nJink p, and one or more springs, s,substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

8. The wire guard t, in combination with the ratchet fastening, for thepurpose dedcribed.

9. The right-angular slotted slide '0 at the bottom of the collar, incombination with the loop w and setscrew or, substantially as described,and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

ADAM RUTHERFORD.

Witnesses:

J. D. LAMAN, C. G. AUSTIN.

